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The life of a good religious ought to abound in every
virtue so that he is interiorly what to others he
appears to be. With good reason there ought to be
much more within than appears on the outside, for He
who sees within is God, Whom we ought to reverence
most highly wherever we are and in Whose sight we
ought to walk pure as the angels.Each day we ought
to renew our resolutions and arouse ourselves to
fervor as though it were the first day of our
religious life. We ought to say: "Help me, O Lord
God, in my good resolution and in Your holy service.
Grant me now, this very day, to begin perfectly, for
thus far I have done nothing."
As our intention is, so will be our progress; and
he who desires perfection must be very diligent. If
the strong-willed man fails frequently, what of the
man who makes up his mind seldom or half-heartedly?
Many are the ways of failing in our resolutions; even
a slight omission of religious practice entails a
loss of some kind.
Just men depend on the grace of God rather than on
their own wisdom in keeping their resolutions. In Him
they confide every undertaking, for man, indeed,
proposes but God disposes, and God's way is not
man's. If a habitual exercise is sometimes omitted
out of piety or in the interests of another, it can
easily be resumed later. But if it be abandoned
carelessly, through weariness or neglect, then the
fault is great and will prove hurtful. Much as we
try, we still fail too easily in many things. Yet we
must always have some fixed purpose, especially
against things which beset us the most. Our outward
and inward lives alike must be closely watched and
well ordered, for both are important to perfection.
If you cannot recollect yourself continuously, do so
once a day at least, in the morning or in the
evening. In the morning make a resolution and in the
evening examine yourself on what you have said this
day, what you have done and thought, for in these
things perhaps you have often offended God and those
about you.
Arm yourself like a man against the devil's
assaults. Curb your appetite and you will more easily
curb every inclination of the flesh. Never be
completely unoccupied, but read or write or pray or
meditate or do something for the common good. Bodily
discipline, however, must be undertaken with
discretion and is not to be practiced
indiscriminately by everyone.
Devotions not common to all are not to be
displayed in public, for such personal things are
better performed in private. Furthermore, beware of
indifference to community prayer through love of your
own devotions. If, however, after doing completely
and faithfully all you are bound and commanded to do,
you then have leisure, use it as personal piety
suggests.
Not everyone can have the same devotion. One exactly
suits this person, another that. Different exercises,
likewise, are suitable for different times, some for
feast days and some again for weekdays. In time of
temptation we need certain devotions. For days of
rest and peace we need others. Some are suitable when
we are sad, others when we are joyful in the Lord.
About the time of the principal feasts good
devotions ought to be renewed and the intercession of
the saints more fervently implored. From one feast
day to the next we ought to fix our purpose as though
we were then to pass from this world and come to the
eternal holyday.
During holy seasons, finally, we ought to prepare
ourselves carefully, to live holier lives, and to
observe each rule more strictly, as though we were
soon to receive from God the reward of our labors. If
this end be deferred, let us believe that we are not
well prepared and that we are not yet worthy of the
great glory that shall in due time be revealed to us.
Let us try, meanwhile, to prepare ourselves better
for death.
"Blessed is the servant," says Christ, "whom his
master, when he cometh, shall find watching. Amen I
say to you: he shall make him ruler over all his
goods."1
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